59 guides
Guides for boat owners
Maintenance, rules and prices.
What does it cost?
All in category →How much does winter boat storage cost?
Yards' own price lists: outdoor winter storage 165–441 kr per m² per season. Separate lifting prices from 670 kr. Compare what's included.
Marine engine servicing: price examples and what the quote should include
Published outboard service prices for 2026/2027. See the difference between labour, parts and winterising before you compare quotes.
Launch and haul-out prices: lift, washing and extras
Stegeborg's published 2026 lift prices show how size, standard hours and hull washing affect the total. Compare the full season cost.
Boat insurance: compare price, excess and winter cover
How to compare boat insurance quotes on the same details and check engine damage cover, theft requirements, lifting and winter storage.
Pre-purchase survey: price, scope and terms before buying a boat
Price guidance from the surveyors' own association and a concrete checklist for ordering an out-of-water survey, sea trial and report.
Berths – how to find one, waiting lists and what it costs
Municipal harbour, boat club or private marina? How the waiting lists work, what affects the fee and how to find available berths near you.
Running aground – what to do right away and what it can cost
Stop, check for leaks, call for help if needed and document everything. A checklist after running aground, common damage to drives and keels, and how insurance works.
Calculate your boat's fuel consumption per nautical mile and per trip
Measure litres per hour and divide by speed in knots. Worked examples for litres per nautical mile, trip cost and why catalogue figures aren't enough.
Boat operator's certificate and boat licence – what are the requirements?
Do you need a boating licence? Boat Driving Licence, Coastal Skipper Certificate and personal watercraft licence – what's required and when.
Repairing gelcoat – scratches, stone chips and cracks
How to repair gelcoat yourself: assess the damage, sand, fill with gelcoat filler, sand in stages and polish. Plus when it's a job for the boatyard.
Rules for leisure boats
All in category →Boat operator's certificate and boat licence – what are the requirements?
Do you need a boating licence? Boat Driving Licence, Coastal Skipper Certificate and personal watercraft licence – what's required and when.
Coastal Skipper certificate (Kustskepparintyg) – what it is and how to get it
The Coastal Skipper certificate (Kustskepparintyg) from NFB: qualifies you for leisure boats of at least 12 × 4 metres at night and in exposed waters. Requirements, exam format, cost and practical boat training.
Personal watercraft licence – rules, age and cost
Since 1 May 2022, a licence is required to operate a personal watercraft. Age limit, course length, fees and where you may ride – according to Transportstyrelsen.
Boating under the influence – alcohol limit and which boats are covered
A 0.2 per mille limit applies to boats that do at least 15 knots or are at least 10 metres long. How the drunk-boating rules and checks work.
Life jackets – rules, types and how to choose
50, 100, 150 or 275 Newton? How to choose the right life jacket, what CE marking and EN ISO 12402 mean, and how to check inflatable life jackets.
Boat toilet waste – rules and pump-out
Discharging toilet waste from leisure boats is prohibited. Here's how the rules, pump-out and harbours' responsibilities work.
Holding tank pump-out and pump-out stations – how to do it
Discharging toilet waste from leisure boats is prohibited in Sweden. How pump-out works, how to find a station and what your boat needs.
Bottom painting – rules for antifouling paint
Which antifouling paints can you use on the east coast, the west coast and in lakes? Plus brush washing, TBT and safe scraping.
Boat on a trailer: don't confuse licence limits with your car's towing capacity
B, B96 and BE for boat trailers: gross weight determines the licence, while actual weight and the car's limits decide what you may load.
VHF certificate (SRC) and VHF channels – what you need
What paperwork you need for a VHF on a leisure boat, how to get an SRC certificate and a licence from PTS, and which channels to use for distress and calling.
Safety equipment on board – what the law requires and what you should carry
Few things are legal requirements on a Swedish leisure boat, but navigation lights, a sound signal and life jackets still matter. Checklist in table form for boats under and over 12 metres.
Right-of-way rules at sea – who gives way?
Powerboat vs sailboat, head-on, crossing and overtaking: the give-way rules in the COLREGs explained with a table, plus what applies in narrow channels.
Navigation marks in Sweden – lateral, cardinal and special marks
How to read Swedish navigation marks: red and green lateral marks, cardinal mark topmarks and lights, isolated danger marks and yellow special marks. With table.
Boat engines: service and faults
All in category →Replacing the impeller – when, how and signs of wear
The impeller cools the engine. How to tell it's worn, how to change it, and what to keep on hand.
Changing the oil in your boat engine – inboard and outboard
How to change the engine oil and oil filter on inboards and four-stroke outboards, and where to dispose of the waste oil.
Changing gearcase oil in outboards and sterndrives – quantity, oil type and steps
Gearcase oil for outboards and sterndrives: the oil type, quantity and filling method depend on the model. See manual examples and how to deal with milky oil.
When should your outboard be serviced? Intervals from five brands
Compare service intervals from Yamaha, Mercury, Suzuki, Honda and Tohatsu. The model and whichever comes first – hours or calendar time – decide.
Drive bellows: when they need replacing and what the job involves
Tell the U-joint bellows from the exhaust bellows, identify the drive and order the right kit. How to plan a bellows replacement without gambling on the seal.
Boat engine temperature alarm: secure the boat and find the cooling fault
What to do immediately if the engine overheats, and how to tell a blocked raw-water flow from a fault in the engine's closed cooling system.
Propeller losing grip: cavitation or ventilation?
The difference between cavitation and ventilation, how to react when the engine over-revs, and what to check before changing the propeller.
E10 or alkylate petrol in your boat engine? Choose by the manual and oil system
E10 approval is model-specific. Distinguish between ethanol content, octane rating and two-stroke oil before choosing pump petrol or alkylate petrol.
Choose a propeller by pitch, diameter and WOT rpm
Read the propeller markings, calculate pitch and slip, and test-run against the engine's specified wide-open-throttle range.
Winterize your boat engine – step by step
How to winterize inboard and outboard engines: antifreeze, oil, fuel, impeller and battery.
Winterising your outboard – step by step
Flush, stabilise the fuel, change the oil and store the engine upright. How to get your outboard through the winter.
Replacing a sacrificial anode – zinc, aluminium or magnesium?
Which anode suits fresh, brackish and salt water, when to replace it and what to keep in mind when fitting it.
The boating year month by month
All in category →Spring commissioning and launching – checklist
Checklist before launching: hull, bottom, engine, safety and paperwork.
Winter storage: a checklist for the whole boat
Winter checklist: hull, water and toilet, batteries, cushions, fuel, cover and stands. The engine has its own guides.
Laying up the boat ashore: stands, props, cradle and trailer
How to keep your boat stable this winter: weight on the cradle or keel, the right number of stands, chain between them and firm ground.
Covering your boat for winter: tarpaulin, shrink wrap or frame
How to cover your boat: a tarp on a frame or shrink wrap. Slope for snow, ventilation under the cover and fastenings that don't shift the stands.
Winterise the fresh water system and toilet on board
Drain the tank, pump and water heater. Winterise the toilet and pumps with propylene glycol, including the hose from the seacock.
Damp and mould in your boat: how to avoid it this winter
Why mould grows in a boat on land and what helps: a dry, clean boat, ventilation under the cover, and the right treatment for wood and canvas.
Winterize your boat engine – step by step
How to winterize inboard and outboard engines: antifreeze, oil, fuel, impeller and battery.
Removing and sanding antifouling: methods, sandpaper and protection
Removing old antifouling or sanding before a new coat: which methods the Swedish Transport Agency recommends, which sandpaper to choose and how to protect yourself and the ground.
Polishing and waxing your boat – from dull to glossy gelcoat
Washing, compounding, polishing and waxing: what order to do things in, which machines work and how often a gelcoat boat needs protection.
Safety equipment on board – what the law requires and what you should carry
Few things are legal requirements on a Swedish leisure boat, but navigation lights, a sound signal and life jackets still matter. Checklist in table form for boats under and over 12 metres.
Repairing and maintaining the boat
All in category →Repairing gelcoat – scratches, stone chips and cracks
How to repair gelcoat yourself: assess the damage, sand, fill with gelcoat filler, sand in stages and polish. Plus when it's a job for the boatyard.
Repairing a hole or crack in a GRP boat – step by step
Repair a hole or crack in a fibreglass hull with glass fibre and epoxy: sand a 12:1 bevel, laminate in layers and finish. Plus when to let the boatyard do the job.
Polyester or epoxy – which resin should you repair your boat with?
Polyester or epoxy for your GRP boat? Differences in adhesion, mixing, temperature and glass fibre, and which material suits which repair.
Osmosis in a GRP boat: recognise the blisters and choose a fix
How to recognise osmosis in a GRP hull, measure moisture and choose between waiting, repairing individual blisters or doing a full osmosis treatment.
Soft deck – moisture in the sandwich core and how to repair it
Soft or spongy deck on your GRP boat? Find the moisture in the balsa or foam core, dry it and inject epoxy, or replace the core. Plus how to seal deck fittings.
Repairing an aluminium boat – leaking rivets, cracks and holes
Repair leaking rivets and seams, cracks and small holes in an aluminium boat with tough epoxy. Plus when welding or new rivets are the better choice.
Removing and sanding antifouling: methods, sandpaper and protection
Removing old antifouling or sanding before a new coat: which methods the Swedish Transport Agency recommends, which sandpaper to choose and how to protect yourself and the ground.
Sealing leaking deck fittings with Sikaflex
Dripping in at a cleat, a rail or a hatch? Here's how to remove the fitting, clean, rebed it with the right sealant and protect the deck core from water.
Replacing a boat window: acrylic, sealing and scratches
Is a window leaking or cracked? How to replace an acrylic window, bond and seal with the right sealant, clean without damaging the plastic and remove scratches.
Teak deck – wash, oil or leave it, and repair the seams
How to care for a teak deck: wash along the grain, avoid pressure washers and harsh cleaners, decide whether to oil, and repair seams that have come loose.
Washing and reproofing your boat canopy: mould, stains and windows
How to wash your boat canopy yourself, remove mildew, reproof it so it repels water again and look after the windows and zips.
Polishing and waxing your boat – from dull to glossy gelcoat
Washing, compounding, polishing and waxing: what order to do things in, which machines work and how often a gelcoat boat needs protection.
More guides
Used outboard: checks, serial number and actual year of manufacture
Check ownership, cold start and gearcase before you buy. How to use the model plate and serial number with Yamaha, Mercury, Suzuki, Honda and Tohatsu.
Your boat's 12-volt system and batteries – starting, consumption and charging
Starting battery or house battery, lead-acid, AGM or lithium? How to calculate power needs, charge correctly and track down the fault when the engine won't start.
Guest harbours – how staying in a guest harbour works
Mooring, harbour fees, shore power, pump-out and rules in guest harbours. Plus how to find guest harbours along the coast and when anchoring in a natural harbour is an alternative.
Find the engine number on a Volvo Penta
Where are the type plate and serial number on a Volvo Penta engine, and why do you need them to get the right manual and spare parts?
Knots for boat owners – 8 knots you'll actually use
Bowline, figure-eight knot, round turn and two half hitches, reef knot, sheet bend, bollard hitch, slipped knot and cleating: when to use them and how to tie them, step by step.
Buying a used boat – checklist
What to check before buying a used boat: hull, engine, paperwork, contract and ownership.
Shore power on board – how to connect 230 V safely
RCD, the right cable, CEE plug and galvanic isolator: how to get shore power on board without the risk of shock, fire or corrosion.
Sell your boat with a clear price, a contract and a safe handover
Prepare the listing, document the condition and write a clear boat sale contract. A practical checklist for private sales and handover.
Tools
Knots
Bowline
A fixed loop, for example around a bollard.
Figure-eight knot
A stopper knot that prevents the line from running through a fitting.
Two half hitches
Secures a line around a post or ring under steady load.
Reef knot
Ties two ends together around a bundle or a furled sail.
Sheet bend
Joins two lines, especially when they are of different thickness.
Bollard hitch
Mooring around a bollard with a round turn and two half hitches.
Slipped bowline
A temporary, quick-release hitch with a pull-out bight.
Cleating
Makes a line fast to a cleat.